Page 9 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Christmas Issue 2022

eat but depositing it, and returning catkin which another northern
quickly to repeat the process. They visitor, the Common Redpoll,
would do this in the wild too of thrives on. A more local bird, the
course. Birds that do this include Pine Siskin includes these catkins in
Black-capped Chickadees, Red and its diet as well. Some birds such as
White Breasted Nuthatches, Blue the Ruffed Grouse and the Purple
Jays, Crows, and many others. Finch find tree buds a suitable food
Finding shelter: At night when during the winter month.
it is colder, birds will find a place to Birds too can find dormant
roost that is out of the wind such as insects perhaps in various life stages
in a thick hedge or in a tree cavity. under tree bark and other crevices.
Some species even “cuddle One such species that depends on
together” on a particularly frosty this approach in the Brown Creeper
night. Bird feathers provide feeding on what it finds in tree bark.
wonderful insulation. Birds, like Ruffed Grouse will find berries and buds in the woods White-winged and Red Crossbills
humans, can shiver, the contracting and will dive into a soft snow drift to spend the night. feed on readily available conifer
muscles producing warmth. Ruffed cones.
Grouse are known to dive into a soft snow drift to spend the Included in the “available winter food” is of course the
night, which sometimes is dangerous if there is rain followed birds themselves. Yet another winter visitor from the north,
by freezing temperatures and the bird becomes trapped. Birds the Northern Shrike, is a relatively small bird but is
too dress warmly. Feathers make great insulation and can be carnivorous and will catch small birds such as Black-capped
“fluffed up” like a padded winter coat to retain warmth. Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos amongst other things.
Available winter food: Many birds are ground feeders Some local hawks will decide not to go south for the winter
and they are more likely to migrate for the winter as the snow and take their chances finding winter prey. Busy bird feeders
cover can make life difficult. There is plenty of food available can attract Coopers and Sharp-shinned Hawks, throughout
however, in addition to the rotting fruit mentioned above. the winter.
Windswept fields where the snow doesn’t accumulate can Winter offers a chance to see visiting species as well as
provide food for another northern visitor, the Snow Bunting, our non-migratory resident birds, and we can see how they
which is happy to find seeds of grasses and other low increase their food consumption and stay warm, having
growing but exposed plants. Wind swept areas also reduce resisted travelling to a warmer climate.
the cover for field mice and other small rodents which keeps For more information on Nature Miramichi visit:
the rare visiting Snowy Owl alive. The Snowy Owl also likes www.miramichinaturalistclub.com
open coastal waters and can feed on sea ducks.
Reference: BIRDS IN WINTER, Roger F. Pasquier, Princeton
Gray birch have a type of reproductive structure called a
University Press, 2019

A Bohemian Waxwing eating berries. Common Redpolls will eat gray birch catkins.

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